The 26-year-old Soderling stopped a sluggish Monfils, who defeated Roger Federer in a three-set semifinal. “I’m in a learning process. Every time I get to a final like this something goes wrong, and this time it was the preparation. I had to rush too much,” Monfils said. “And also, at one stage in the match I tried to change my plan. I should maybe not have done that and keep with simple things…Yesterday I used up a lot of energy, and today I wasn’t able to find the extra stamina that I would have needed to be more competitive.”

Robin Soderling won his first career Tennis Masters 1000 title today in Paris.

After two Saturday semifinal epics, it’s Gael Monfils and Robin Soderling for the Paris supremacy.

Robin Soderling and Gael Monfils advanced to the Paris final.

Frenchmen Gael Monfils and Michael Llodra reach the semifinals.

Andy Murray appeared to injure his wrist, but still won his match in Paris.

Sean Randall breaks down the Paris draw.

Some good matches are on tap Friday in Basel and Valencia.

Caroline Wozniacki finishes the year No. 1, Elena Dementieva drops the retirement bomb, and the WTA Tour puts another injury-riddled, star-lacking season to rest. Here’s hoping for the return of Justine Henin and Serena and Venus Williams in 2011 — and while we’re at it, the attempted comebacks of Martina Hingis and Ana Kournikova. If you thought it wasn’t bad, consider that Vera “The Crying Game” Zvonareva had a chance to finish the year No. 1 during the year-end championships…

Caroline Wozniacki clinched the 2010 No. 1 ranking.